Just as the fluffy white stuff has been piling up outside, so have the snow days.

Eight inches of snow covered Holland from Monday night through early Tuesday morning, shutting down most West Michigan schools yet again. And most school officials said they expect more snow days will be used before winterís end. That means†many districts will have†canceled school at least seven days because of the weather.

The unplanned days off can be more of a headache than a relief for teachers as they have to re-work their lesson plans and keep up with assignments. But despite Mother Natureís unpredictability, some educators are making the most of the time off.

Hamilton Community Schools Superintendent Dave Tebo in January tasked his students with a project-based snow day challenge, asking them to watch a video and submit thoughtful responses. The submissions were so positive that Tebo decided on Tuesday to give the student body another snow day challenge. Holland Public Schools Superintendent Brian Davis was so inspired by Teboís idea that he followed suit and asked his students to use their creativity to answer one of five prompts.

"I'm not sure how many individuals saw it on Twitter after they saw that school was canceled, but it was retweeted and favorited by a lot of people," Davis said of†his challenge.†

Although administrators are keeping students busy and engaged during their days off from school, they have also been planning when they can make up missed days of instruction.

Current state law requires school districts to offer at least 1,098 hours of instruction in the 2013-14 school year. The districts must also provide a minimum of 170 days or the number of days offered in 2009-10, whichever is greater. Schools are allowed to cancel six days while still maintaining their eligibility for state funding.

Zeeland hasnít finalized any plans yet, but spokeswoman Ginger Smith said the district plans to send out a community survey to gather reactions. Saugatuck is still brainstorming options, Superintendent Rolfe Timmerman said, and Hollandís Davis said his team will work with the teachersí union and communicate a plan during parent-teacher conferences in March.

As for West Ottawa, Superintendent Tom Martin wrote in a parent letter that make-up days will be tacked onto the end of the school year in June.

The Michigan Department of Education does not track the number of snow days districts take, but come Aug. 1, schools are required to report the number of hours of instruction they have completed for the year.